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7.2/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 7.2/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Rio Grande Romance remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you have about an hour and you really like the sound of 1930s spurs clicking on floorboards, then yes, give it a watch.
It is perfect for people who enjoy low-stakes mysteries where the good guy is obviously going to win.
If you need high-budget stunts or a plot that makes 100% sense, you will probably hate this movie. 🤠
So, we start with Jack Carter getting in big trouble. He’s Bob Andrews’ brother-in-law, and he’s been framed for a murder he definitely didn’t do.
The cops find a planted gun, and everything looks pretty bad for him.
Bob Andrews, played by Edward J. Nugent, is a federal agent who doesn't just sit around waiting for the trial.
He takes a leave of absence and starts tracking where that gun came from like a dog with a bone.
It’s the kind of plot you’ve seen a dozen times, but it moves so fast you don't really mind the clichés.
The movie gets way more interesting when Bob decides to go to jail on purpose.
He hears about a killer who was recently shot by the sheriff, and he convinces the sheriff to let him take that guy's place in a cell.
The logic is that the person who actually owns the murder weapon is also in that jail.
It’s a bit of a stretch, honestly.
I mean, the way the sheriff just agrees to this plan is almost funny.
"Sure, pretend to be a dead murderer, why not?" It’s that old-school movie logic where everyone is strangely trusting of the hero.
Of course, Bob meets the sheriff's daughter, Joan.
Maxine Doyle plays her, and she has this very specific 1930s way of looking perpetually surprised.
They have these short scenes together that feel a bit rushed, but they’re sweet in a dusty sort of way.
Bob is already planning the wedding before he even clears Jack’s name.
The man has confidence, I’ll give him that.
It reminds me of the quick-burning romances in The Bandit Buster where people basically decide to get married after three conversations.
There’s a scene in the jail where the lighting is actually kind of moody for a budget film.
The shadows on the bars look great, even if the rest of the set looks like it might fall over if someone sneezes.
I noticed one of the extras in the background of the jail scene just staring at the camera for a split second.
It’s those little mistakes that make these old B-movies feel real to me.
The sound quality is a bit scratchy, like a bowl of Rice Krispies, but that’s part of the charm.
It doesn't feel as polished as something like Show People, but it isn't trying to be.
George Cleveland as Sheriff Williams is probably the best part of the whole thing.
He has this grumpy-but-kind energy that makes you wish he was in more of the movie.
Fuzzy Knight shows up too, and if you've seen enough of these Westerns, you know exactly what he’s going to do.
He’s the comic relief, and while some of his jokes land, others just kind of sit there awkwardly.
It’s a bit like the humor in Holy Smoke—very much of its time.
The pacing is a bit weird towards the middle.
One minute Bob is investigating a gun, and the next he’s basically part of the sheriff’s family.
The movie skips over a lot of the actual work of being an agent.
But I suppose they only had about 60 minutes to tell the whole story, so things had to move.
It’s way more straightforward than something like A Gentleman's Agreement, which takes its sweet time with everything.
It’s a solid little film if you don’t think too hard about it.
It has that same rough-around-the-edges feel as Fast Bullets or The Old Corral.
Not every movie needs to change your life.
Sometimes you just want to see a guy in a suit outsmart some criminals in a dusty town.
If you're bored on a Sunday afternoon, this will do the trick just fine.
Just don't expect a masterpiece and you'll be perfectly happy. ✨
IMDb 5.6
1937
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